Iron Powder and Spellcaster

Shuangxi Town belongs to Baishan County and is located on the east bank of Anya River, across the river from Manyun Valley.

It is a quiet agricultural town with only 22 permanent households.

Tonight, this tranquility is destined to be trampled to pieces by iron hoofs.

A detachment of cavalry quietly approached the town and broke into action after dark.

The sound of horse hooves rumbled like thunder, and the mayor and his wife were so frightened that they fell off the bed.

Ignoring his wife's obstruction, the gray-haired mayor rushed out of the room to ring the bell.

He was barefoot and just ran onto the street when he heard the sound of cracking in the air from behind.

He turned his head in horror, only to see the sharp blade coming towards him.

The old mayor threw himself in the dust.

"The army is fighting the chaos! It has nothing to do with you and others!" Andre shook off the blood on the knife with a sullen face.

He didn't know who this crazy old man was. He wanted to cut off his ear to scare him away, but the knife hit the back of his head.

Andre couldn't tell what he felt in his heart. He sternly warned the townspeople behind the doors and windows: "Those who go out will die!"

No one answered him.

"Don't make me kill you," he whispered, so quietly that only he could hear.

The townspeople were hiding in their homes, peering into the streets through cracks in doors and windows.

The small town was almost overwhelmed by the sound of hooves, and they didn't know how many cavalry came.

If someone breaks into their home, burns, kills, robs, and rapes them, they may have the will to fight to the death.

But the people who came just occupied the street, and their momentum was extremely terrifying. They really couldn't muster the courage to fight.

Seeing that the doors and windows of every house were closed and no one dared to take to the streets, Andre sheathed his sword.

His right arm was a bit stiff and it took several attempts to get it right.

A captain of ten rushed to his side, saluted and reported: "Sir, the defenders have surrendered."

Lieutenant Cellini uttered one word coldly: "Burn."

"The warehouses are empty."

"Burn whatever you have."

The ten captains saluted again and rode away.

Andre chose to raid Shuangxi Town because it was the place where the supplies of the Baishan County army were accumulated.

He crossed the river long before the enemy.

While the garrison in Baishan County was still gathering its forces, Winters had already gathered his war horses and those who could ride on them, and handed them over to Andre to lead them across the river by boat from the upper reaches of the Anya River.

As soon as it was confirmed that the Baishan County army had entered Tiefeng County, Andrea Cellini, the war dog, released his bridle on his own.

However, the gains from the raid in Shuangxi Town were very limited.

There was nothing in the warehouse, and all the baggage had been taken away by the Baishan County garrison officer, leaving only a ten-man team to guard it.

Seeing the cavalry approaching, the eight defenders simply surrendered and handed over their weapons.

"Centurion!" Another centurion came galloping over, shouting from a distance of more than ten meters: "What is written on the paper, we can't understand it!"

"What are you calling?"

His old subordinate shut his mouth and handed a roll of paper to the centurion with both hands.

Andre took the scroll and looked at it in the moonlight.

His right arm trembled slightly involuntarily, making it difficult for him to see the small words on the paper.

The moonlight is dim, which is even more tiring for the eyes.

Andre was distraught. He threw the roll of paper back to his subordinates and said angrily: "What the hell! Take away all the paper with writing on it!"

The ten captains saluted and left.

Andre's left hand grasped his right arm so hard that his fingers turned white.

…

Winters only had two requirements for Andre, and he left the rest to his own devices.

First, don’t damage people’s property. Burning the houses of farmers and townspeople will not hurt the Baishan County garrison.

Second, it is necessary to collect archives, land deeds, files and newspapers kept by various towns in Baishan County at any time.

Therefore, after seizing the material warehouse, Andre's cavalry immediately broke open the town hall door.

Then they were in trouble because no one could read...

Fortunately, Lieutenant Cellini had a simple and crude solution.

Can't read? Take away any paper with writing on it.

…

The nightmare cavalry roared in and flew away, like a brief but waking nightmare.

Shuangxi Town was left with a corpse, as well as the burning warehouse, town hall and police station.

When the sound of horse hooves completely disappeared, the townspeople walked out of their homes in fear.

They gathered around the mayor's body and mourned for the old man who had always done his duty.

For the town of Twin Creeks, tonight's disaster is over.

But for Baishan County, this ravage is far from over.

Winters originally had a hundred cavalry, but Andre eliminated most of them without any reason, leaving only forty-six cavalry, less than a detachment.

It's just that each of these forty-six riders is equipped with a war horse and four servant horses.

In order to facilitate access to water for irrigation, the settlements on both sides of the river are close to the river and are densely distributed, which saves Lieutenant Cellini a lot of trouble.

Andrea Cellini's cavalry was like a devastating wind, sweeping through eleven villages and towns on the east bank of the Anya River overnight.

…

That night, the bald colonel learned that Baishan County had been attacked.

The fire on the other side of the river was soaring into the sky, and I couldn't hide it even if I wanted to.

But Gesa did not give any orders, and the messenger who woke him up was severely reprimanded.

After scolding the orderly, the colonel fell back on the bed.

The soldiers of Baishan County also continued to sleep soundly in houses and tents until dawn.

Early the next morning, as soon as the reveille was sounded, Captain Hudson sent a briefing to Colonel Geisa.

The briefing was thrown carelessly on the table by Gesa, and he went to the back of the room to urinate.

"There is no place to take a bath in this small town." Mr. Colonel walked back, yawning and pacing, and complained to his subordinates: "My whole body hurts if I don't take a bath."

Captain Hudson was quite disapproving: "The Anya River is right next to it. You can just go and wash yourself in the river."

"You must use hot water to take a bath!" Colonel Gesa was furious, his scalp was squeezed out with wrinkles: "Can cold water be called a bath?"

"Okay, yes, you are right." Captain Hudson responded perfunctorily. He handed the briefing to the colonel: "The rebels have gained considerable momentum."

But one night, there was smoke everywhere on the east bank of the Anya River.

Villages and towns large and small have either been raided by rebel cavalry, or traces of rebel cavalry have been found in the surroundings.

"This little bastard has all the fighting methods of the Hurd Barbarian." Colonel Gesar scanned the briefing at a glance, threw it on the table, stretched his waist, and asked, "What do you want to eat in the morning?"

"White bread, red soup, boiled eggs." Captain Hudson spoke quickly, and he asked: "No matter if he can really do it? Send a few people back, but you shouldn't let the rebels do whatever they want."

"I'm asking the big head soldier what he eats in the morning?"

"Bread and vegetable soup."

"That's not bad."

"Really don't care about him?" Captain Hudson asked again.

"Why do you care?" Colonel Gesa wiped his face and scalp with a towel dipped in water as a wash.

"The rebels are looting our villages and towns!"

"Let him grab it." Colonel Geza sneered: "Although there are twenty or thirty villages in emergency at the same time, it is actually just a small cavalry. I don't even have a few cavalry, so how many rebels can there be?"

"Even if there are only thirty cavalry, the villages and towns cannot stop them."

Geza sat down with his golden sword and signaled to Hudson to bring breakfast: "This is where the rebels are stupid. They use the fighting methods of the Hurd barbarians, but they are not the Hurd barbarians. The barbarians kill people, burn villages, and rob Something. With the rebel cavalry, if they dare to do this, the village militias will be able to exhaust them all."

"You mean, let him snatch it?"

"Let him rob! The more he robs, the less likely he is to occupy Baishan County. The rebels will not occupy Baishan County, so what are we afraid of him for?"

Captain Hudson sighed: "You are the garrison officer, you have the final say."

The captain turned to leave.

"Wait a minute, I have a question." Colonel Gesar raised his chin and asked, "The report says that the rebel Bud and the rebel Mason have been deprived of their military rights?"

"That's right." Captain Hudson nodded expressionlessly.

"The traitor Cellini is dead?"

"Presumed death."

"The traitor Montagne is in Gevaudan."

"Yes, it is said that he is still promoting his bonds."

"This is strange." Colonel Gesa's smile was quite playful: "Then who is commanding this cavalry in Baishan County?"

Captain Hudson snorted: "It may be someone recently promoted by the traitor Montagne. It is said that he has a lot of Dussac."

"In my opinion, your reporting is quite problematic."

"It's information sent by a big family in Gevaudan." Captain Hudson frowned: "They won't surrender to the rebels."

"Okay." Colonel Gessa laughed: "Give me the order, eat and drink enough, and continue marching to Gevaudan!"

…

Although his butt was on fire, Colonel Gesa remained unmoved.

Two centurions were left to guard the pontoon, and the Baishan County army set off again.

The fist did not change its course and still swung towards Gévaudan.

And all this was seen by Winters.

Because he is in Manyun Valley.

To be precise, it is the forest between Manyun Valley and Tuosong Street.

And he brought with him the troops of Bud, Andre, and Mason—currently organized into the First, Second, and Three Hundred.

After the declaration of martial law in Jevaudan, Winters rushed to Manyun Valley at starry night and joined the three Centuries who had been waiting here.

It is of course best if Andre's cavalry can contain the Baishan County army.

If the cavalry couldn't do it, Winters would go into battle himself.

Tiefeng County is larger in depth than Baishan County. Manyun Valley is 150 kilometers away from Rewardan and less than 60 kilometers away from Yuanhua Castle.

If the fire in his butt is not enough to sway the Baishan County garrison officer, then he will stab him again.

So after the Baishan County army left Manyun Valley, Winters waited patiently for a whole day.

Until Ciel, who was following the enemy's reconnaissance, returned.

"It's time to set up camp!" Charles' voice couldn't hide his excitement: "As you might expect, they set up camp thirty kilometers away, right between Camelsong Street and Manyun Valley."

"Let's go!" Winters picked up his saber, stepped on the stirrups and mounted his horse: "Let me defeat the pontoon defenders!"

The soldiers in the forest stood up one after another. Military orders strictly prohibited speaking, so the soldiers beat their chests hard.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

The dull sound was like a god beating a war drum, and the birds were frightened and flew up in flocks.

Entering Tiefeng County means entering enemy territory. According to Winters' judgment: If the Baishan County garrison officer's intelligence is not problematic, he will avoid forced marches as much as possible.

The 60 kilometers between Manyun Valley and Tuosong Street would take at least two days to walk.

Now, the Baishan County army is in a very delicate position.

They are about 90 kilometers away from Iris Castle and about 100 kilometers away from Jevaudan.

They were at the midpoint of the route from Gévaudan to Chateau de l'Eau - slightly closer to Chateau de l'Eau.

By choosing this moment to launch, Winters was almost teasing the Baishan County garrison officer, because the enemy's position was just right.

If we had to walk another day to reach Camelson Street, the enemy commander might get excited and go straight to Gévaudan without any care.

Looking across his most elite troops, Winters raised his saber, and the sound of drums in the forest disappeared instantly.

Chopping down silently in the direction of the pontoon, Winters Montagne took the lead and rushed out of the forest.

His standard-bearer Heinrich was the second to burst out of the forest, followed by three centurions.

Three against two, and with a powerful spellcaster like Winters, the defenders of the floating bridge collapsed at the first touch.

Winters had no time to pursue the remnants of the enemy. After crossing the river, he burned the pontoon bridge cleanly.

…

When Colonel Gesa led the troops back to Manyun Valley, they were greeted by the remains of the pontoon bridge and the remnants of the troops left behind.

They found Lieutenant Matt, who was responsible for defending the pontoon bridge, by the river.

Lieutenant Matt sat on a big rock, his face pale and his body shaking.

He stared at the toes of his boots and muttered: "Awesome... really awesome..."

Lieutenant Matt resisted until the last moment. Seeing the complete defeat of the defenders, he jumped into the Anya River to escape with his life.

"Blanket." Colonel Gesar looked at Captain Hudson: "And wine."

Gesar first wrapped his centurion in a blanket and filled a glass of strong wine.

He scratched the back of his head and asked seriously: "Are you sure that it was Winters Montagne who led the raid last night?"

Lieutenant Matt drank the entire glass of strong wine in one breath, and the hand holding the empty glass still couldn't stop shaking: "Not sure."

Colonel Geza waited for the centurion to continue.

Lieutenant Matt's throat was churning, and even though he had just drank a whole glass of wine, his mouth was still dry: "That guy kills like a target, he has no emotions at all...kill, kill, kill...there is blood everywhere... A court mage is nothing more than that..."

Colonel Geza's face became solemn, and he silently filled the centurion's glass of wine.

"I don't know if that person is Montagne." Lieutenant Matt drank a whole glass again: "But that person... can only be him..."

The lieutenant grabbed the colonel's hand suddenly and dropped the wine glass on the stone beach. His eyes were full of fear: "You must be careful! Be careful! That guy can rush into the phalanx and kill you! He can definitely do this. Point! You must be careful!"

Colonel Geza patted the centurion's hand: "Don't worry, you have a good rest, don't worry."

Lieutenant Matt returned to his world again, staring at the tips of his boots and whispering: "It's so awesome...how could it be so awesome..."

Colonel Gesa walked aside and couldn't help but sigh.

"What on earth is it?" Captain Hudson gritted his teeth: "Can it destroy Matt?"

"What do you mean by abolishing it?" Gesa glared at his subordinate: "When we return to Yuanhua Castle, I will take the child to eat and drink something good, and then take a bath, and he will be fine."

The rebel leader, Winters Montagne, was a powerful spellcaster—Colonel Geza had reported this to his centurions.

The officers of Baishan County knew that the enemy was very strong, but the degree of strength was obviously beyond expectation.

In the open space by the river, Colonel Geza convened an impromptu meeting of all centurions.

After explaining the latest situation, the colonel grasped his beard hard and frowned as he analyzed: "According to the description and battlefield survey, Montagne's combat mode is very simple, all direct killing. He should not be able to use poisonous smoke, etc. It is an indirect killing spell, so except for the musketeers who continue to use it intensively, all other anti-magic combat configurations are cancelled."

The centurions nodded solemnly, and Lieutenant Matt's situation made them frightened.

"All items that can identify one's identity must be removed from officers and non-commissioned officers. Military flags should also be put away." Colonel Gesa narrowed his eyes and ordered the centurions: "You all go change into civilian clothes and get your faces dirty. From this moment on, orders will only be delivered by snare drum and bugle.”

Allowing officers to mix among soldiers will inevitably reduce command efficiency. But it also reduces the risk of officers being killed first by spellcasters.

It was a matter of trade-offs, and no centurion would question Colonel Geza's judgment.

"Will the battle continue?" Captain Hudson narrowed his eyes and smiled coldly: "Sir."

"Continue! Montagne may be a good spellcaster. But I think his brain must have been damaged during the battle with the Hed Barbarian. He first used this set of things to deal with Ronald, and now he wants to use it against him again. I."

The bald man slapped his thigh and laughed wildly: "You are so damn contemptible!"

His centurions held their swords, with the same smiles on their faces and fierce eyes.

Colonel Geza stood up suddenly and ordered fiercely: "In this battle, our target is still the rebel leader Winters Montagne. Kill him, and the rebels will naturally fall apart. Let him go, and the rebels will come back." Wodan, it’s okay if you don’t go! If he dares to enter Baishan County, then don’t leave!”

"Uukhai!" the centurions beat their breastplates and shouted in unison.

The west bank of the Anya River.

The soldiers pulled off the coverings on the carriages, and many of the large baggage carriages were loaded not with food, but with prefabricated components of another pontoon bridge.

The new pontoon bridge was extended toward the east bank at twice the rate at which the first pontoon bridge was built.

Baldhead brought two pontoon bridges to prevent the rebels from jumping outside.

Baishan County is a trap.

Winters doesn't know this yet, he is busy robbing the mansion to report.

Colonel Zipper did not know this for the time being. He was blocked by a fortress.

[On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I wish everyone all the best, good health and peace. In fact, everything goes well and it doesn’t matter. Health and peace are the most important. So once again I wish you all good health and safety! ]

[Thanks to book friends for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments]

[This chapter also has a map, and the campaign map has been updated]